tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post1255617130338828360..comments2015-08-01T20:00:30.377-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Edward Payne: genteel shooting victimJ. L. Bellnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-52782814311081998292009-03-04T10:54:00.000-05:002009-03-04T10:54:00.000-05:00I think some army officers thought the double-load...I think some army officers thought the double-loaded muskets were “absolutely necessary” as the only way their soldiers could beat back hostile mobs. In three of the previous four days, there had been fights between Boston workers and soldiers, so the Massacre didn’t explode out of calm.<BR/><BR/>Throughout the pre-Revolutionary conflict, and indeed the Revolutionary War, the British officials and military had the advantages of traditional authority, technological parity or superiority, and men with full-time training.<BR/><BR/>But they were at a deep disadvantage in numbers. With two regiments in Boston in 1770, the army was clearly outnumbered by locals, an overwhelming percentage of whom were Whigs. During conflicts like the Neck Guard riot of October 1769, the ropewalk brawl of 2 Mar 1770, and the confrontation on King Street on 5 March, the British soldiers always faced superior numbers, and without firearms they always lost. <BR/><BR/>I think that made Crown employees and supporters quicker to use deadly force since they had no other way to protect themselves.J. L. Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-75776139869292387522009-03-04T09:56:00.000-05:002009-03-04T09:56:00.000-05:00Thank you for posting this additional information ...Thank you for posting this additional information ! It seems to add creedance that the soldiers had indeed double-loaded their muskets.I have to wonder though,exactly why? Was it pre-conceived that shooting at civilians would be likely? If so,why do more damage than absolutely necessary? Having more dead would ceretainly inflame the already toxic situation in Boston,and I don't see any benefit to the local government.Pvt.Billnoreply@blogger.com